Machine for reinforcing inner soles



No. 609,I03. Patented Aug. l6, I898.

M. L. KEITH.

MACHINE FOR REINFORCING INNER SOLESI (Application filed Nov. 2, 1896.) (N o M o d e I 3 Sheets-$heet l.

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N0. 609,I03. I I Patented Aug. I6, I898.

' M. L. KEITH.

MACHINE FOR REINFOBGING INNER SOLES.

(Application filed Nov. 2, 1896.| (N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- "I HIIIIIIIIIIIV' No. 609,")3. Patented Aug. l6, I898.

M. L. KE|TH..

MACHINE FOB REINFURCING INNER SOLES.

' (Application filed Nov. 2, 1896.; (No Model.)

a Sheets Shaet s.

E |vIIIIII/IIIIIIlIIIl/I/IIIIIIII/lfl INVENTEJRI,

MYR ON L. KEITH, OF BROC KTON,'MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR RElNFO jRCl NG INNER SOLES.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,103, dated August 16, 1898. Application filed November 2, 1896. Serial No. 610,856. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MYRON L. KEITH, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Reinforcing Inner Soles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for making inner soles for boots and shoes, and

particularly welted boots and shoes, in-which the leather portion of the sole is reinforced.

by a sheet or layer of fabric, the said leather portion being split around its edge to form a flange which is bent upwardly from one side of the sole and is covered by a sheet of fabric, the fabric being cemented to the side of the sole from which the flange or lip projects and covering the lip also, so that both the sole and lip are reinforced.

The invention has for its object to provide a machine for conforming the reinforcing layer to the sides of the flange or lip and for trimming said layer in conformity'to the edge of the leather body of the sole. to

To these ends the invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim. 7

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine, parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the machine, parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the machine, showing the formin g and feeding wheel and other parts in 1011- gitudinal section. Fig. 4 represents a side view of the circular trimming-knives. Figs.

- 5, 6, and 7 represent sectional views illustrating the operation of the machine. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing parts of the machine and of a sole being operated on by the machine.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, (t represents the supporting-frame ofthe machine.

7) represents a rotary work support or table which is supported by a vertically-movable slide or carrier b, fitted to move in a holder or socket a, affixed to the frame a, said holder Z) being yieldingly supported by means of a spring W. A lever b pivoted at b to the supporting-frame, isengaged at its swinging end with a stud b affixed to and projecting downwardly from the carrier 1), said stud having nuts 1) b between which the lever b is located. The lever b is connected by a rod or link h with a treadle, (not shown,) said treadle, rod, lever, stud, and carrier enabling the operator to depress the work-table h whenever it is desired to insert the work bet-ween it and the combined forming and feeding wheel 0, hereinafter described.

The work-table b is provided with a shank b", to which is affixed a gear 12 meshing with a gear 11 affixed to a vertical-shaft b which is journaled in bearings on the supportingframe and provided with a bevel gear.b, which meshes with a similar gear Z7 on a driving-shaft 11 to which motion may be communicated in any desired manner,'such as by a crank I)", having a gear Z3 meshing with a gear I), affixed to the shaft h The shankb" of the work-table b has a down wardly-projecting stud b which rotates in a socket or bearing formed for its reception in the carrier 2), the work-table being thus adapted to rotate, while the carrier has no rotary movement.

0 represents a forming and feeding wheel,

which is preferably cup-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, and has a beveled milled edge or face 0, formed to rest squarely on a sole supported by the work-table b, and a milled inner face 0 which is substantially at right angles with the beveled face 0' and is arranged to act as one of the flange reinforcement forming parts. The wheel 0 is affixed to a shaft 0 which is journaled in a fixed'bearing on the frame of-jthe machine and isprovided with go b are thus rotated simultaneously and inthe same direction, so that the edge of a sole in- 100 sorted between them will be fed or moved progressivelyby the rotation of said parts.

(1 represents a resser-foot which is formed on or affixed to a slide cl, movable in an in- Rotary motion clined guide (1 which is afiixed to a lever d pivoted at d to the supporting-frame, and norm ally held by means of a spring 61 against a stop d Said stop, as here shown, is a nut on a rod d which is connected with the lever 5 the arrangement being such that when said lever is moved to depress the work-table b the lever (Z will also be moved to swing the presser-foot d away from the forming and feeding wheel 0. Provision is thus made for releasing the work from pressure between the presser-foot and forming and feeding wheel and for accommodating any desired thickness of material between said parts. The slide d is longitudinally movable in the guide 01 to move the presser-foot toward and from the Work-table Z). A lever 61 which is mounted upon the pivot 61 beside the lever 02 has in one arm a slot d, which receives a stud (Z on the slide cl, the other arm of the lever (Z being extended rearwardly and connected by a rod 01 with a treadle. (Not shown.) A spring (1 holds the lever d against a stopscrew d, which determines the normal position of the foot d relatively to the worktable. A downward movement of the rod (Z causes an upward movement of the presserfoot, as will be readily seen.

6 and 6 represent rotary disk-shaped trimming-knives which are arranged to trim off the surplus portions of the reinforcing-sheet 0", which is shown in Figs. 5, (3, 7, 8, and 9 cemented upon one face of the leather inner sole 3. Said cutters are aflixed, respectively, to shafts 6 6 which are journaled in bearings in an oscillatory frame or cutter-holder 6 the latter being pivoted at e to the supporting-frame. The frame 6 is adapted to swing toward and from the work-table 1), its cutters being in close proximity to the point where the forming and feeding wheel 0 and presser-foot d bear upon the work. The cutter e projects into the concave side of the wheel 0, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 7. The shaft 6 is rotated by power communicated in any suitable way, preferably through a belt (not shown) running upon a pulley e. The shafts e e are connected by gears 6 6 so that the cutters are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and are thus caused to trim the material presented to them. The cutter-holder e is provided with an arm a", which is arranged to bear against the edge of the sole 8 under the reinforcing layer '1, and thus determine the line along which the projecting portion of the layer r is trimmed by the cutters, the edge of the sole 3 acting as a gage. The cutters are arranged so that when the work is in place and the arm a bears upon the edge of the sole the cutters will trim the reinforcing layer along a line which is flush with the edge of the sole. The cutterholder and its cutters are pressed yieldingly toward the work-table b by means of a spring c Fig. 1. The longitudinal movability of the shaft 6 and the spring 6, arranged to press the cutter e yieldingly against the cutter 6, automatically compensates for wear of the meeting faces of the cutters and keeps them always in operative contact with each other.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A sole .9, which has been previously split at its edge to form two lips, one of which has been turned upwardly, forming a rib or flange s, is covered on one side, excepting at its heel portion, with a sheet 0" of canvas or other suitable reinforcing fabric, the canvas being cemented to the sole and to the sides of the flange or rib s. The reinforcing layer 0* may be applied by hand, the operator manipulating and pressing the reinforcing-sh eet to cause it to conform approximately to the rib or flange s. The sole is now placed upon the work-table b, the operator depressing the latter to permit the insertion of the sole and reinforcing layer between the work-table and the forming and feeding wheel 0, this depression of the work-table also separating the presser-foot from the portion of the wheel 0 with which it cooperates, all as shown in Fig. 5. The operator then inserts the rib or flange s and its partially-formed covering between the face a of the wheel 0 and the presserfoot d. The work-table Z) and presser-carrying lever (Z are then released, the table I) being forced upwardly by its spring 19 and the presser-foot at the same'a time forced toward the wheel 0 by the spring 01 as shown in Fig. 6. These springs are sufficiently strong to cause a considerable compression of the rib or flange s and its cover between the forming and feeding wheel and the presser-foot. The operator then rotates the work-table and wheel 0, thus feeding the sole progressively and causing the presser-foot and the wheel 0 to progressively compress and form the rib or flange s and its cover throughout the entire length thereof. At the same time the projecting edges of the reinforcing layer 0" are presented to the cutters e e and trimmed off flush with the edge of the sole.

The longitudinal movability of the presserfoot slide (1 in its guide 01 enables the presserfoot to conform automatically to the thickness of the material interposed between it and the table I).

The cutter-holder or frame 6 is preferably provided with a plate f, arranged to support the portion of the reinforcing layer which is removed by the cutters and prevent said portion from becoming entangled in the cuttershafts and other moving parts adjacent thereto.

In Figs. 3, 5, and 9 1 show a cup or holder g, containing cotton or other absorbent material which is saturated with oil and arranged to bear against the lower portion of the cutter 6, thus keeping the cutters properly lubricated.

I do not limit myself to the particular form and arrangement of the several parts of the machine here illustrated, and the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the work support or bed may be a roll or. cylinder instead of a fiat table. It is obvious that any suitable work-support may be used in conjunction with the forming and feeding wheel and presser-foot, the work-support holding a sole so that an upwardly-projecting rib thereon will be properly presented to the said wheel and foot.

I claim- 1. A machine of the character specified, comprising a work-supporting bed, a rotatable forming and feeding wheel, and a presserfoot arranged to cooperate with said wheel in compressing a sole flange or rib.

2. A machine of the character specified, comprising a work-supporting bed, a rotatable forming and feeding Wheel supported in fixed bearings, a presser-foot which is movable toward and from said wheel, and means for yieldingly maintaining the foot in its operative relation to said wheel.

3. A machine of the character specified, comprising awork-supporting bed, a rotatable forming and feeding wheel supported in fixed bearings, a presser-foot guide movable relatively to said wheel and yieldingly held in its normal relation thereto, a presser-foot slide movable independently in said guide and provided with a presser-foot arranged to cooperate with said wheel, and means for yieldingly holding the said slide in its normal position. relatively to the guide.

4. A machine of the character specified, comprising a rotary Work-supporting bed, a rotary forming and feeding wheel adjacent thereto, a presser-foot arranged to cooperate with said wheel as described, and means for simultaneously rotating said bed and wheel.

5. A machine of the character specified, comprising a yieldingly supported rotary work-supporting bed, means for depressing the same, a rotary forming and feeding wheel mounted in fixed bearings above the said bed, and a presser-foot arranged to cooperate with said wheel.

6. A machine of the character specified, comprising a yieldingly-supported rotary work-supporting bed, a rotary forming and feeding wheel mounted in fixed bearings above the bed, a presser-foot movable toward and from said wheel and yieldingly maintained in its operative relation thereto, and

means for simultaneously displacing said bed and resser-foot.

7. A machine of the character specified, comprising means for pressinga sole-rib, solefeeding mechanism, and a yieldingly-supported trimming mechanism movable toward and from the edge of the sole to conform automatically to the edge of the sole.

8. A machine of the character specified, comprising a work-supporting bed, rib or flange compressing devices adjacent to the bed, a cutter-holder mounted to move toward and from said bed and yieldingly maintained in its operative relation thereto, cutters carried by said holder, and an abutment on said holder arranged to bear on the edge of a sole.

9. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination of a rotary forming and feeding wheel, and presser-foot arranged to engage the reinforcing material and conform the same to the lip on an insole, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a rotary forming and feeding wheel, of a presser-foot, said wheel and foot arranged to engage the reinforcing material upon opposite sides of the lip on the insole to conform said material to the lip, and said forming and feeding wheel having a pcripheral bearing-face to lay the edge of the reinforcing material upon the feather of the insole, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a presser-foot arranged to press and conform the reinforcing material to one side of the lip of an insole, of a forming and feeding wheel arranged to conform the reinforcing material to the opposite side of the lip, and to feed the insole beneath the presser-foot, substantially as described.

12. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a rotary Work-support, of a rotary forming and feeding wheel arranged to conform the reinforcing material to one face of the lip on the insole and means to cause the insole to be gripped between the forming and feeding wheel and work-support to feed the insole, substantially as described.

13. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a work-support arranged to support the insole, of means to conform the reinforcing material to the insole and cutters movable toward and from. the edge of the insole arranged to automatically follow the edge of the insole and trim. the edge of the reinforcing material, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for reinforcing insoles, the combination with a work-support,of means comprising a presser-foot to form a bead or crimp in the reinforcing material,

and means for simultaneously moving the work-support and presser-foot to release'the insole, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 31st day of October, A. D. 1896.

MYRON L. KEITH.

Witnesses: I

WENDELL S. How-Es, DAVID PERKINS. 

